Percussive rodent trap

Abstract

A percussive rodent trap has an activation mechanism and a hammer for striking a percussive device when the activation mechanism is activated. A first safety moves the hammer mechanism to a cocked position and prevents it from being released from this cocked position. A second safety can be engaged after the first safety is engaged to prevent the activation mechanism from being activated when the first safety is removed. The second safety is easily removed after the trap is put in place without inadvertently activating the activation mechanism.

1. A percussive trap comprising:
 (a) a case; 
 (b) said case containing, a hammer mechanism which is movable between a cocked position and a release position where the hammer mechanism strikes a percussive device located in said trap; 
 (c) an activation mechanism which releases said hammer mechanism from said cocked position; 
 (d) a first safety which when engaged moves said hammer mechanism to the cocked position and simultaneously prevents said hammer mechanism from being released by said activation mechanism; 
 (e) a trigger rod, projecting from within said case, which activates said activation mechanism when said trigger rod is moved along a path parallel to a longitudinal axis of the case from a set position, in which the trigger rod projects a first distance from the case, to a release position, in which the trigger rod projects a second distance from the case, the second distance being different from the first distance; and 
 (f) a second safety, located nearer a first end of the case opposite the trigger rod than a second end of the case adjacent the trigger rod, a portion of the second safety is movable to block the path of the trigger rod from the set position to the release position. 
 
     
     
       2. The trap of  claim 1  wherein said second safety can only be engaged when said first safety is fully engaged. 
     
     
       3. The trap of  claim 1  wherein said hammer mechanism comprises:
 (a) a rod; 
 (b) a compression spring which surrounds said rod; 
 (c) a retainer attached to a first end of said rod which is configured to hold said spring on said rod; and 
 (d) said retainer having a rounded head. 
 
     
     
       4. The trap of  claim 3  wherein said trap further comprises:
 (a) the case comprising an annular cylindrical case; 
 (b) a cylindrical slider which is slidable within said case, said slider having a cylindrical cavity defined therein, said cavity having an enclosed end with an opening extending centrally therethrough; 
 (c) said hammer mechanism fits within said cavity with a second end of said rod extending through said opening; and 
 (d) said opening is configured such that said enclosed end engages said spring. 
 
     
     
       5. The trap of  claim 4  wherein said first safety comprises:
 (a) said rod being threaded; 
 (b) a threaded knob that fits on said rod; and 
 (c) said knob being configured to engage said enclosed end when said knob is rotated on said rod to draw said retainer toward said enclosed end so as to compress said spring between said retainer and said enclosed end and place said hammer in its cocked position. 
 
     
     
       6. The trap of  claim 5  wherein said activation mechanism comprises:
 (a) a plurality of large balls which fit loosely in openings located circumferentially around said slider, said large balls having a dimension which is greater than a thickness of said slider; 
 (b) said spring having a diameter which causes said spring to engage said large balls and keep them from moving into said cavity; 
 (c) notches located in said case, a respective one of said notches adjacent to each of said large balls, said notches being tapered such that said notches become increasingly deeper progressing toward said enclosed end; and 
 (d) said notches and large balls are configured such that when said spring is not compressed and said hammer mechanism is not in its cocked position, said spring urges said balls into deepest ends of said notches and prevents said slider from moving relative to said case. 
 
     
     
       7. The trap of  claim 6  wherein said large balls and said notches are configured such that when said spring is compressed and said hammer mechanism is placed in the cocked position, said balls can move further into said cavity against the rounded head of said retainer and allow said slider to move away from said enclosed end until said balls are located midway in said notches and said second safety comprises a lock mechanism which, when engaged, prevents said sleeve from moving relative to the case. 
     
     
       8. The trap of  claim 7  wherein said trigger rod is slidable in said case between the set position and the release position and when engaged said second safety prevents said trigger rod from being moved to said release position. 
     
     
       9. The trap of  claim 8  wherein said second safety includes a pair of pins which project from said slider and said lock mechanism is movable between a first position where said lock mechanism engages said pins and prevents the slider from moving relative to the case and a second position where it receives said pins and allows said slider to be moved relative to the case. 
     
     
       10. The trap of  claim 9  including a pair of small balls which hold said lock mechanism in said first position when said second safety is engaged.